Bulldogs Gear Up for Competitive Weekend

Nathan Molina. (photo by Sam Rubin '95, Yale Sports Publicity)

Apr 21, 2011

More Than 35 Teams, Seven Ivy League Schools, Competing at Larry Ellis Invitational

NEW HAVEN, Conn. – The Bulldogs have a busy weekend ahead of them in one of the first large meets of the outdoor season at the Larry Ellis Invitational at Princeton, with more than 35 teams competing. In addition to Princeton, the Bulldogs will have the chance to compete against most of the other Ivy League schools, including Brown, Columbia, Dartmouth, Harvard and Penn. The two-day invitational also features the Friday Night Races, reserved for distance runners who have met the meet standards. This will be the team's second time at the Tigers' Weaver Stadium, which will be the site of outdoor IC4A Championships in post-season.

After winter-like weather at both Harvard-Yale and the Sam Howell Invitational, the distance runners hope to post some fast times in Friday's fair conditions. Junior Nathan Richards and senior Matt Bogdan both look strong in the 3,000-meter steeplechase after going 1-2 at Harvard-Yale. Senior John Van Deventer, after winning his first outdoor race last weekend, could pull off another remarkable performance in the first heat of the 1,500-meter run, as well as junior Julian Sheinbaum, who is coming off a season best and is seeded in the second heat, and junior Conor Dooney, who will compete in his second race of outdoor season. Sophomore Matthew Thwaites and sophomore Ryan Laemel will take on the 5,000-meter run, the last and longest race of the night.

In the middle distance, junior Charlie Jaeger, sophomore Christopher Ramsey and freshman James Shirvell could have strong races in the 800-meter run, Shirvell bringing in the fastest time in the event for the Bulldogs after his performance at Harvard-Yale.

In the sprints, the Bulldogs have a solid group in the 200-meter dash, including junior Matthew Bieszard, who holds the ninth-fastest time in the 200-meter dash in the league and won the 100-meter dash last weekend, senior Nathan Molina, senior Chris Stanley and freshman Daniel Jones. In the 400-meter dash, senior captain Marty Evans is coming off a second-place finish last weekend. Jones will also compete in the 100-meter dash after running a season best at Harvard-Yale despite the strong winds. The 4x100 meter relay team of Molina, Evans, senior Chris Stanley and Bieszard also look solid after a win last weekend. The same group is also listed to compete in the 4x400-meter relay.

In the throws, senior David Smith, eighth in the league for the shot put, and sophomore Mike Levine, seventh in the league for the hammer throw, could do well in their respective events. Freshman Stefan Palios will also compete in the shot put. All three are set to compete in the discus, Levine holding the number two spot in the league. Sophomore Tommy Winger and freshman Dana Lindberg, who went 2-3 in the long jump last week, will also compete in the event this weekend. In the triple jump, both senior Samba Binagi and Lindberg had strong performances at Harvard-Yale, Binagi a season best and Lindberg an impressive mark for his first collegiate appearance in the event.

Friday's competition will start with the hammer throw at 3:00 p.m. and end with the 5,000-meter run at 9:50 p.m. On Saturday, both field and running events will kick off at 12:00 p.m., ending with the 4x400-meter relay at 6:00 p.m. A complete schedule as well as performance lists can be found here. Results will be available on Yalebulldogs.com and Tumeytiming.com after the meet.